Snow Ski Training Device

Abstract

A training device for skiers in the form of a pair of skate boards for attachment to the feet of the skier and adapted for sidewise rolling movement over a supporting floor surface with a friction brake responsive to sidewise tilting or "edging" of the boards to control sidewise rolling while permitting sidewise pivoting of the boards.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to ski training devices and more particularly to a pair of skate board-type devices for attachment to the feet of a skier by means of which both the novice or skilled skier may simulate and practice certain skiing techniques.

In the past, various types of ski training machines or devices have been proposed, but by and large, such prior art training machines or devices comprise relatively large size, expensive, stationary structures on which a skier must stand with his skis on to practice or simulate various movements, turns or the like. More recently, roller-mounted skis, commonly called "turf" skis have been made and sold for use on grass and other non-snow covered slopes as a substitute and/or training aid for skiers. However, the use of so-called "turf" skis requires for their enjoyment a relatively large outdoor area and favorable weather conditions. Also, the roller system employed in "turf" skis is arranged to provide for antifriction movement of the skis in a generally longitudinal forward direction over the supporting ground or turf surface.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a ski training and/or exercising aid in the form of a pair of skate boards which are arranged for attachment to a skier's feet by means of the usual ski boots and ski bindings, and wherein each of the skate boards includes an undercarriage made up of a plurality of relatively spaced apart wheels or rollers arranged for rotation about an axis extending in parallel, longitudinal relation to the skate board, thereby providing for sidewise or transverse movement of the skate board and the skier, rather than forward or backward movement thereof, and wherein each skate board is equipped with a friction brake engageable with an underlying supporting surface and actuated by transverse tilting or "edging" of the skate board to control transverse rolling and/or pivoting movement of the board.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet efficient ski training aid which may be used on a horizontal or inclined indoor floor or platform surface or on outdoor pavements to teach the novice and enable the skilled skier to practice and simulate various skiing techniques required for proficient skiing.

Additional objects and advantages ambient to the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a ski training device according to this invention showing an attached ski boot and binding in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking toward the bottom or underside of the training device;

FIG. 3 is a front end elevational view looking approximately from a plane indicated by the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic end elevational view showing the application of the brake by the transverse tilting or "edging" of the platform or board member of the device; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse, vertical cross sectional view taken through the ski training device along the line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For simplicity of illustration and description, the accompanying drawing illustrates only one of a pair of identical skate board-type devices which are to be worn on the two feet of skier-trainee. Each such device comprises an elongated, generally rectangular platform or board 10 of a width approximating that of an ordinary snow ski and a length sufficient to support the skier when his body is in a forward leaning position. Mounted on the board 10 is a standard, release-type ski boot binding mechanism 11, as illustrated by broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. It should be understood that the ski boot and binding mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, are conventional and ordinarily will comprise those usually worn by the skier and applied to his snow skis. As such, the boots and binding 11 comprise no part of the present invention other than as a means for attaching the training devices to the feet of the skier or trainee.

Rigidly secured to the underside of the board 10 are three, longitudinally spaced apart, axle-supporting brackets 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the brackets 12 are positioned so that there is one bracket at each end and at the middle of the board 10, and each bracket 12 is preferably formed from metal and possesses a generally inverted U-shape. The brackets are formed with axially aligned bearing openings 13 through which extend a single axle shaft 14. The axle 14 is disposed in downwardly spaced parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the board 10 and rotatably supports thereon three wheels or rollers 15 between the side webs of the brackets 12. The wheels or rollers 15 preferably include anti-friction bearing hubs, not shown, which permit each of the rollers to rotate independently on the axle with minimal friction. Thus, the rollers 15 are arranged to roll in planes perpendicular to the axle 14 and to the longitudinal axis of the board 10, and thus support the board for lateral or sidewise movement.

Also mounted on the axle 14, between the forward end and middle brackets 12, is a braking means generally designated at 16. The braking means comprises a generally rectangular or cubical block 17 of wood or metal formed with a vertically elongated slot 18 through which the axle 14 passes (see FIG. 5). The block 17 is provided on its undersurface with a relatively thin, flat friction pad 19 formed from rubber or other elastomeric composition. The block 17 is formed in its central, upper side regions with a pair of notches or recesses 20 in each of which is adhesively or frictionally secured a generally rectangular or cubical pressure block or pad 21 of resiliently compressible rubber or rubber-like material. Each of the pressure pads 21 extends a distance above the upper surface of the block 17 and terminates in relatively closely spaced relation to the under surface of the board 10. The longitudinal position of the braking means 15 on the axle 14 may be adjusted within limits by means of a pair of set screw-type stop collars 22 carried on the axle 14 at the opposite ends of the brake block 17. In other words, the stop collars 22 may be loosened on the axle 14 to permit the braking means 16 to be shifted longitudinally on the axle between the middle and end brackets 12 to any desired position. The stop collars 22 may then be refastened by their set screws to the axle to fix the longitudinal position of the brake means thereon. The elongated axle slot 18 permits the lower friction pad 19 to engage an underlying supporting surface 23 regardless of wear on the pad 19, and relieves the axle of the weight of the brake means and the forces applied to the brake means upon sidewise tilting or "edging" of the board 10, as will be more fully explained. Also, in certain instances, it may be desirable to provide an additional, though identical, brake means or assembly 16 between the middle bracket 12 and the opposite end bracket.

OPERATION

In operation, a pair of the training devices is secured to the boots and feet of the skier-trainee by means of the bindings 11 in the same fashion as would be a pair of conventional snow skis. Now, depending upon the position of the skier's body and feet, the skier may cause the devices to roll or pivot to either side to simulate foot and body actions required or desired for parallel turns, or may practice or simulate "edging" techniques necessary for side stepping up a hill, or for snowplow braking or turns. These various movements or exercises may be practiced either on a flat or inclined floor or pavement surface, and by transverse tilting or "edging" of the boards 10 in either direction, the skier may apply controlled pressure through either of the pressure pads 21 to the brake block 17 and its friction shoe 19 to retard and/or prevent sidewise movement of the boards on the wheels 15. This braking action is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4 in which it will be noted that as the board 10 is tilted or angled sidewise in either direction from a horizontal position, the underside of the board eventually engages and presses downwardly upon the underlying pressure pad 21 of the braking means 16. The force applied to either of the pads 21 is transmitted through the brake means 16 and friction pad 19 and is converted to a frictional force acting upon the supporting surface 23. The height and resiliency of the pressure pads 21 enables the skier to apply variable but controlled braking forces to the brake means simply by controlling the degree of inclination or "edging" of the board and by adjusting his center of gravity longitudinally with respect to the brake means. In certain exercises, it may be desirable to apply only light force to the brake means to cause the brake shoe 19 to only lightly drag upon the supporting surface. In other exercises, such as for example in practicing parallel turns on a downwardly inclined supporting surface, it is desirable to apply a maximum of braking force to the brake means by simultaneously "edging" steeply toward the "uphill" sides of the boards while leaning the body forwardly to thus use the brake means as a fulcrum during the pivoting of the boards first in one sidewise direction and then in an opposite sidewise direction.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides an inexpensive, yet efficient and extremely realistic training and/or exercising device which may be used both by the novice as well as by the experienced skier to simulate and practice various foot and body movements and positions required for proficiency in skiing.

While a single preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it will be understood that various modifications in details of construction and design are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A ski training device comprising an elongated, generally flat board for attachment to the foot of a person; wheel-supporting axle means carried in depending, relatively spaced parallel relation to the central longitudinal axis of said board; a plurality of wheels rotatively carried on said axle means at spaced intervals along the length of said board and supporting said board for sidewise movement on a supporting surface; and brake means including a friction block carried on said axle means beneath said board and arranged to be pressed into frictional engagement with such supporting surface upon transverse tilting of said board to retard sidewise movement of said board on such surface.

2. A ski training device according to claim 1, wherein said friction block is adjustable longitudinally of said board.

3. A ski training device according to claim 1, wherein said friction block includes a resiliently compressible member adjacent the undersurface of said board arranged to progressively increase the coefficient of friction between said block and such supporting surface with a progressively increasing angle of tilt of said board.